§ 14-48-105 - Procedure to change to another form of government. - Arkansas Statutes

14-48-105. Procedure to change to another form of government.

(a) When the question of the adoption of the city administrator form of government is submitted to, and approved by, a majority of the qualified electors of a municipality voting on the issue, the question of changing to another form of government shall not again be submitted to the electors of that municipality for a period of four (4) years.

(b) (1) After the expiration of four (4) years from the date on which the first board of directors and mayor take office in a city organized under this chapter, a petition signed by electors equal in number to fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of ballots cast for all candidates for mayor in the preceding general election may be presented to the mayor, calling for an election to consider any other form of municipal government authorized by the laws of this state.

(2) (A) (i) Thereupon, the mayor by proclamation in accordance with 7-11-201 et seq., shall submit the question of organization of the city under the form of government stated in the petition at a special election to be held at a time specified therein.

(ii) The proclamation shall be published one (1) time at length in some newspaper having a general circulation in the city.

(B) (i) Notice of the election shall be published one (1) time a week for two (2) weeks in some newspaper having a general circulation in the city, the first publication to be not less than fifteen (15) days before the date set for the election.

(ii) No other notice of the election shall be necessary.

(c) At the special election for the submission or resubmission of the proposition, the ballots shall read:

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The name of the form of government specified in the petition for election shall be printed on the ballot in lieu of the blank lines appearing above.

(d) (1) The election shall be conducted, the votes canvassed, and the results declared in the same manner as provided by law in respect to other city elections.

(2) (A) The county board of election commissioners shall certify the results to the mayor.

(B) The results shall be conclusive and not subject to attack unless suit is brought in the circuit court of the county in which the city is situated to contest the certification within thirty (30) days after certification by the county board of election commissioners.

(e) If no suit is brought to contest the certification of the results of the election on the question of the form of government within the thirty-day period after certification, the mayor shall file certificates stating that the proposition was adopted with the Secretary of State and county clerk of the county in which the city is situated.

(f) (1) (A) If the majority of the votes cast on that issue shall be in favor of the adoption, the city shall thereupon proceed to the election of all of the city officials required by the laws governing the form of government adopted.

(B) The election of the city officials shall be held at the next time provided for the election of city officials under the statutes then in effect pertaining to the form of government adopted for the class of cities to which the particular city belongs, and all laws pertaining to the form of government adopted for such class of cities shall apply.

(C) (i) On the date prescribed by these laws when newly elected city officials take office, the term of office of all members of the board and mayor shall terminate and the transition to the form of government adopted shall be completed.

(ii) If under the form of government adopted the terms of the officials elected are staggered, then determination shall be made by lot, and the length of the terms fixed accordingly.

(2) The provisions of this section for converting to another form of government shall be in addition to the right to change to any other form of municipal government that may exist under present law.

(g) If the plan is not adopted by a majority of the voters voting upon that issue at the special election called, the question of adopting that same form of government shall not be resubmitted to the voters of that city for adoption within four (4) years thereafter. At that time the question may be resubmitted upon the presentation to the mayor of a petition signed by electors equal in number to fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of votes cast for all candidates for mayor in the preceding general election.

(h) (1) When a municipality elects to adopt any other form of government in the manner provided in this section, the question of reorganizing the municipality under the city administrator form shall not be submitted to the electors within a period of four (4) years, and thereafter, only in the manner provided in 14-48-104.

(2) If the qualified electors of the municipality do not approve the organization of the municipality under the city administrator form at the election, the proposition shall not again be submitted to the electors of the city for a period of four (4) years, and then, only in the manner provided in 14-48-104.